the great pachi nail pull-off

[mudfud]

the contestants

cystic's modified brad puller
lee valley puller
the samson
vintage nipper/puller
sioux's turnbuckle/twister and modified corkscrew
chewy's modified nibbler
the bridgeport no. 56
standard pliers with tape on the jaws

criteria

minimal bending of nails
minimal damage to cell
easy on the hands and wrists
quick
minimal nicks and nail head damage

I could buy the nail puller book, but our criteria are unique, pulling brass nails that we want to reuse and that are more than 1/2 inch out of the wood to start with.

I will rate them on a 1-5 scale for each criterion

I think we need an attachment to hold the cell cover (clear layer) down, too, so it doesn't get lifted.

any other entries or criteria?

[ebb]

I work with metals and jewelry.
Here is a prong lifter made in Germany.

These may not be the best for pulling a whole cell.
But there great when you need strength and precision.

[Microbus99]

I'm sticking with my slide hammer for now. I'll race ya!!

[mudfud]

I'm sticking with my slide hammer for now. I'll race ya!!

hey micro.

did u make a special tip to grab the nails? I can't remember now.

oohh...pachi nail pull time trials... 0-200 in 30 minutes?

[Microbus99]

hey micro.

did u make a special tip to grab the nails? I can't remember now.

oohh...pachi nail pull time trials... 0-200 in 30 minutes?

45 minutes, with breaks. The advantage is that you dont have to set up the tool. You just grab and pull. Does no damage to the nails. I admit you you're arm might be a little sore the next day.

Doesnt mean I wont entertain other ideas.

[dattia]

Pachilympics... WooHoo!

[emmadog]

i used the old tape wrapped pliers method. as many have stated it definitely works but my wrist let me know about it the next day. i did notice that toward the end the tape wore through so the pliers teeth started to leave marks on the brass. i wasn't too worried but i didn't realize at the time new nails are impossible to find and i'd have to use the originals. however, since i don't polish the nail shafts once nails are on the machine the marks disappear as the nails oxidize.

[mudfud]

I bought 2 more sheet metal nibblers to modify. will try using a hacksaw to make the T shaped slot. I like the nibbler mechanism b/c there isn't a lot of movement needed, and I just have to squeeze w my hand.

have to try out the other tools, though, and see.

[mudfud]

first time trials in.

the chewy modified nibbler pulled 10 nails in 35.7 seconds. this is a mix of 5 in the open area, and 5 in an arc, to give a good mix of nail approaches.

the lee valley puller is too big and heavy for delicate pachi work, so that's out. probably the bridgeport 56 is too bulky and destructive, too, but I will give it another try, now that mopar told me I was using it backwards

dad is grinding another puller "a perfect one" since he felt bad about over grinding the last one.

a key component of the puller is to use a block to push against the cell while the nail is being extracted... oohhh that makes me think of the dentist...

will post pix when I'm back in berkeley.

btw, ebb, I tried to get my dad to let me try his pop rivet gun, and he said "no, your nibbler will work better". I think maybe the collar wouldn't clear the head of the nail, since the pop rivets are straight?

also, the 45 angle nibbler from harbor freight won't work. wrong principle of action. it's going back.

thinking to buy a copy of the nail puller book, just b/c I'm curious to see all the patents.

at least I will have just about every nail puller on the market when I start the pantry demolition later this year...

always gotta have more tools.

[ebb]

btw, ebb, I tried to get my dad to let me try his pop rivet gun, and he said "no, your nibbler will work better". I think maybe the collar wouldn't clear the head of the nail, since the pop rivets are straight?

I should have posted a link.

When you beat them up~ a quick regrind and back to good as new.

Prong Opening Pliers | Jewelry Making Supplies - Pliers - Beading Supplies, Tools

[mudfud]

here are the nail puller pix and the stripped sumo cell. I think that the fish and starfish gotta go. thinking to put a japanese rising sun and sumo cartoon guy in on the background.

[Siouxzan]

Looks like you have a great tool there with the nibbling cutter.
But don't be closing the trials until my new and improved corkscrewer gets there
Another criteria I'd like suggest is ability to access to the pin you want to pull.

[mudfud]

don't worry. I can't wait to try yours and compare.

I am guessing that the nibbler and corkscrew will be the winners. using the leverage and anvil technique to minimize wear and tear on the wrist and arm.

yes, ability to get to the nails is an important criteria. in fact, that's why the lee valley and number 56 got eliminated. too big and bulky to fit on our delicate pachi cells.

[Siouxzan]

Hey Chewy,
I suspect you're not keeping any secrets, but just wondering if there's any news from the nail pull-off experiment front.

[mudfud]

hey, thanks for checking.

I was waiting for the simpson to come in.

thinking of video taping the whole series of nail pullers this week

the contestants are

sioux's corkscrew and modified screw tightener
the simpson
the chewy modified nibbler
maybe the lee harbor, though it's kinda heavy and hard to manipulate
the bridgeport

vs. the standard

needlenose or combination pliers.

hmm. problem is I don't have a fresh victim to practice upon... perhaps I will have to do the actual testing on one of my spares in salinas this coming week?

I do have another idea for a franken pachi, maybe this machine (a sophia B with faded rainbows) is next?

p.s. the samson (sorry, homer, it's not a simpson), is quite the bear, but it combines the claw action to grab the nails that are sunk in the wood, with the pulling action in a crank-type leverage. if there's a space to set it on the pachinko face, this might be a good option

[Eddie]

What about this?

YouTube - nail jack!

[Moparformances]

What about this?

YouTube - nail jack!

looks like a great concept but to big and bulky for a pachi

one thing i would like to see is not so much as whats faster... time is one thing i dont mind spending on my pachi... it would be clean extraction first and ease of use second... speed would be last

[Eddie]

looks like a great concept but to big and bulky for a pachi

I was joking

[dattia]

I was joking

I'd would say that if Eddie knows anything about Pachis, it is how to restore them with the utmost of respect and a gentle loving touch.

[Eddie]

I'd would say that if Eddie knows anything about Pachis, it is how to restore them with the utmost of respect and a gentle loving touch.

XOXOXO You are truly Blessed!